West Bloomfield mom pens book on Booing

Halloween tradition inspires mom to fulfill dream of writing children's book

Kendra Montante has always wanted to write a children's book.

The educator's story inspiration hit her last Halloween when her family was booed.

"My girlfriend came over and booed us and I thought it was the most fabulous thing ever and I thought 'Why didn't I know this?'" Montante said.
Montante said she did research and that there was little out there about booing.  According to her website, booing is also called ghosting and hogobling and dates back to the 1980s.

Booing is when you leave a bag of treats on a doorstep, ring the doorbell, run and hide.  Then you watch as the children who open the door are pleasantly surprised by their "boo" goodies.

"A lot of families are very into creating traditions with their own families and it's important with their children and then the other part of it is teaching their kids to do something nice for somebody else just for fun, just because, and we try to teach that to our children," Montante said.

Montante has spent the last year writing "Booing: A Halloween Tradition" a story about a family who can't wait to be booed and then when they are booed, they have two days to carry on the tradition with two other families.

The West Bloomfield mom wrote the story with the help of her husband and children, Enzo, 8, and Ava, 3.

"When I got to a good point in the story, I basically read it to my kids and asked them their opinion and they gave me feedback on words they liked or didn't like or if we should choose this one versus this one, they helped me decide," Montante said.

The book is based on Montante's own experienced being booed.  The two children have red hair just like her two children.  The book also rhymes.

The book sells for $29.99 and comes in a kit with a stuffed ghost named Wisp and instructions in the back of the book on how to boo somebody.

"My kids love to go booing. It's so fun to go to someone's house, ring the doorbell and leave fun treats on their porch and go in the bushes and hide right?" said Montante. "Just pure I think for us. It's just, it's so fun, it's so rewarding just to see somebody excited about a present for no reason.

No matter how many books Montante sells, she is proud of fulfilling her dream to write a children's book.

"It's already successful because I did it with my heart in it.  I did it because I wanted to do it and had passion for it.

The book is available on her website Kendramontante.com and Amazon.com.
it is also for sale at Toyology in Royal Oak, Detroit Kid City in Southfield, Tre's Hallmark in Commerce Township, Basket Kreations in Plymouth and Paradigm in Waterford.

Montante said  people boo in neighborhoods, schools, nursing homes, even at work.

Her family is planning to boo 75 other families before Halloween.   She said treat bags can include homemade goods, candy, toys, gifts and gag gifts.